Brett Begemann is President and Chief Commercial Officer, with commercial responsibility for Monsanto’s global business and supply chain. He oversees commercial, manufacturing and supply chain operations in row crops, vegetables and crop protection with the aim of accelerating Monsanto’s growth potential.

Begemann formerly served as Monsanto’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer for global business operations including overseeing the commercial, manufacturing and supply chain operations in row crops, vegetables and crop protection.

Begemann’s strategic priorities include expanding the company’s seed business to help its farmer customers around the world increase crop yields and meet consumer needs while conserving more precious resources including water, soil and energy.

As President and Chief Commercial Officer of Monsanto’s business, Begemann is focused on enhancing global coordination, growth and operational efficiencies across the company, including increasing manufacturing and supply-chain efficiency; ensuring a strong strategic linkage between crop protection and seeds and traits, and ensuring the commercial development of the company’s next-generation of growth drivers. These drivers include growth opportunities in the company’s established markets, new markets like Eastern Europe, China and Latin America, as well as through the next wave of agriculture innovations such as Integrated Farming Systems and Ag Biologicals.

Begemann grew up on a diversified grain and livestock farm in the United States. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a B.S. degree in agricultural economics. Begemann joined the former Monsanto Company in 1983 as a sales representative in Minnesota. Throughout his career, Begemann has held a variety of sales, marketing, commercial development and general management positions for Monsanto in both U.S. and international markets. Prior to his current role, Begemann served as the Executive Vice President of Monsanto’s Global Seeds & Traits business where he was responsible for commercial business in Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, India, South America and the Seminis vegetable seed company.

Begemann currently serves on the board of directors at Eastman Chemical. He is also a member of the Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Council at the University of Missouri, Columbia; a member of the International Business Leadership Council of Missouri; and a member of the Friends Committee at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.